Theodore Leander Campbell, was born March 31, 1852 about four miles east of Marion to Oliver Gains Campbell and Sidney S. Stewart. The 1860 federal census captured the family living in Township 9, Range 3 (now East Marion Township) living as farmers. The record indicated there was no real estate value but that the family had a personal estate of $1,000. The children listed were Theodore aged 8, James Arthur aged 2, and an 18-year-old farm laborer named William T. Davis.
By the 1870 census, the families value had risen, they were recorded as being in the same township and range but their real estate value was then listed at a value of $3,000 and personal estate of $800. One son named Cyrus, aged 9, had been added to sons Theodore and James Arthur since the last census.
On December 3, 1876, Theodore married Julia Lauson May at the brides fathers home about 3 miles east of Marion, indicating that they lived nearby his parent’s home and likely went to the same church. The small family appeared to grow over the next three years with a child born in 1877,1878 and 1879.
In the 1880 census, Theodore was listed as a 28 year old farmer, his wife Julia was 24 and only two children are listed in the census Eva aged 3 and James E. aged 1. They were living in Crab Orchard, Il.
According to his obituary, Theo moved his family to Marion in the next year, 1881, and went into partnership with his brother James Arthur Campbell and opened a general merchandise store in Marion. The brothers also expanded out into the livery business and dealing in livestock. An article in a Marion paper in 1881, indicated that Theodore had accompanied his invalid brother to a sanatorium in Battle Creek, Michigan. Since brother, James A., appears to remain active I suspect this was the younger brother, Cyrus.
In 1893, Theodore was elected city alderman under Mayor James W. Westbrook and was re-elected in 1894, but passed away at his home in Marion on February 5, 1894 before completing his term. His brother James A. Campbell completed his term of office for him.
Theodore was a stock dealer and a member of the firm Campbell Brothers. He was a member of the Monitor Lodge No. 236 Knights of Pythias and also in the Knights of Honor. He was survived by his wife and three children. Burial was in the new city cemetery, now called Old Rose Hill Cemetery.
A 1907 city directory, found his widow, Julia, living as a boarder in a house at 306 E. College St. She passed away at the home of her daughter Eva in August 1915. She was born in Williamson County on March 10, 1845, the daughter of William May. Her children were Mrs. George B. Calhoun (Eva), Ed (James E.) of West Frankfort and Mrs. Harry Norman, who died about 8 years ago. She was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Eva Campbell, born in 1877, married George B. Calhoun on February 11, 1900 at her age of 23. George was a 25 year old bookkeeper. In 1907 they were living at 407 E. Marion St. and George was a bookkeeper for the Carterville Consolidated Coal Company.
James Edward Campbell, born in January 1879. Found in 1907 directory to be a carpenter with wife Eliza, living at 1300 N. Van Buren St. and was living in West Frankfort in 1915.
Maude May Campbell, born abt 1878, married Harry Norman on June 29, 1906 in Marion. Harry was then a carpenter but would go on to be one of Marion’s leading businessmen, owning Norman Lumber Yard and later purchasing the Hotel State building. No record of Maude’s death could be found but according to her mother’s obit she died around 1911.
(Sources: The Leader, Marion Monitor, Egyptian Press and Marion Daily Republican newspapers, Marion Street Directories, 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Nannie Gray Parks Burial records, Williamson County Birth and Marriage records, Federal Census records & FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 8/25/2023)